Foot manipulating apparatus



A ril 2, 1935. D. w. DAVIS 1,996,614

FOOT MANIPULATING APPARATUS Filed Apri l 5, 1933 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 2, 1935 res This invention relates to the correctadjust--v ment of troublesome maladjusted or defective feet andparticularly to apparatus for treating the feet to effect relief frompainful strain and maladjustments or defects. The primary object. of theinvention is to provide a method of and apparatus for correcting theanatomical maladjustmentsiand/or defects of human feet.

The human foot, because of its cantilever. constructionis ordinarilysubjected to multiplied strains which under the 'most favorableconditions cause tiring of the feet, particularly the arches andattendant structures. In walking or running thewei'g-ht of the body isrepeatedly shifted fromthe heel to the ball of the foot and during theshifting and while resting on the ball the entire load is transmittedthru-and supported by the arch of the foot. Again in standing aboutfor'long periodsof time when the weight.- of the body "is' supportedentirely upon the. feet there is a resultant downward springing of thearches, as the weight'is borneprinoipally upon the'heels and toes Theseand other normal or abnormal activities cause tiring and weakening" 'ofthe ligaments of the arches. a "-It may beiseen that excessiveorabnormal use or an accident may strain the'archesto such extent thatamaladjustment will be caused: On the other hand improper footwear maycausean unfavorable condition-which will aid in 'causing amaladjustment; or there'maybe some natural weakness or defects" of afoot which may'become aggravated or aid in causing a. maladjustment; 5

"various causes "that the average human experiences in the pursuit ofhis normal duties. As

.it isfrequently inconvenient or impossible for one to enjoysystematically the careful and frequently: expensive attention ofexperts, these troubles are often neglected As a 'resulttheco'n'dition'may become so acute as to cause such a degree ofdisabilityas to seriously hamper the activities of the victim. Fortunately tliesetroublesma'y be corrected;

The present invention contemplates an .a pa

heaithy'fiienibers which are capable-bf normal more we feiearassavsna'sss off thelfifesfeiit invention is that an individual may enemyit at p orti ig me If s em oy t wil new 219: he-acc an skew n n.eniuncany convenient time, such for example as just before retiring atnight. Any other convenient time may be chosen but when employingitbefore retiring at night the natural recuperative powers of the bodyare given anopportunityto 5 function under most favorable conditions, asthe patient will usually thereafter remain prone for Several I S- It ispointed out here that theinvention may be employed to considerableadvantage and great comfort by persons whose feet merely growtired fromthe days activities; as it tends to readjust 9 rm p i nsth d ate bo estructure t vs r l e an vs ul and tr n t n h fact avoid the consequencesof gradually weak- .1.1801 straining qq d fii r u O t a d d a i a s irthveetion m eib t u de steqd b ferrin qnwr fie theblhfine esqr ntip whiehillue t e ean desqr be a p e ed mbeflime t c n a aratus n caime qd of emt wtdins t t j c eee in en on: c Fi j a View of. ad u ter ta r m he sand. s i tly abq e wi a V ew; 9 th handle rid e i i 12 i fon of anadjuster taken fr'om the side and Slightly abo e it m n: of Fig. n;

.i .Fia. IV i a v e o t e t and ad ustable st a m mb r of a ad ster t nat a le m he f t: a d, s ehtl ov -it-h c. t .1; :g i i js i w i sirat sdae .atical y an adjuster in :a position to be vmanually operated in djusin t ar h 'o a umanfl ot-c I An adjuster complete as illustrated inFigs-I :consistsof aframe-like, combinationleyenhandle 40 v du p rt I, aes nt r sse membe whiq .isir y a ta e t .ansi'tsu pq fiedb them mstrapembe t- The member l illustrated rnorecompletely in .45 Fig. 'II, isrormeqprererap y from a meteor bright wire bent in such snape'as to;

her l a padded boot member 3 and an adjustable 1 i H e u. y l FIWP' portfor the presser neinber 2. web ineifiber 8 crosses a the base at thehassle sear strrigthemag andstiffeningtheifie nber r aura rotatingortwistingabouta lohg'itudinal'eixi The resilient presser member 2illustrated more completely in Fig. III is preferably formed of a woodor the like base, or stock, l which is rigidly secured to the bar memberI by a suitable screw H. A piece of resilient or sponge rubber or thelike I2 is provided to fit the outer end of the stock Hi and a softrubber cap It covers the resilient member l2 and stock H3 in such amanner as to form a well-knit resilient presser member. In an alternatearrangement the two members l2 and 13 may be made integrally, that is ofone piece, having the required resilient qualities.

The boot member 3 and adjustable strap member 4 are illustrated morecompletely in Fig. IV. The boot member 3 is preferably made of flat feltor padding material covered with a suitable strengthening cover fabric.The strap 4 may be of any suitable material, fabric or leather, its endsbeing secured to the boot member 3, and a buckle 5 being provided foradjusting the size of loop the strap 4 forms. An elastic web memher {5is provided for drawing the lower edges of the boot member 3 together soas to provide a snug fit for a foot. Two strap members IE and I6 areprovided in the form of loops for loosely encircling the projectingmembers of the member for securing the boot--member 3 thereto andproviding a fulcrum for the lever l, the function of which will be fullydescribed presently.

In fitting an adjuster on the foot for applying the manipulativeadjustments, as illustrated in Fig. V, the toes may be thrust into theboot 3 and the strap 4 placed around the back of the foot, just abovethe heel, drawn up to fit snugly and secured by the buckle 5. In theapplication of the different manipulative adjustments it is usuallydesirable to manipulate one location to a suflicient degree and thenshift to another'location. When the location is changed, longitudinallyof the foot at least, the position of the boot 3 may be also necessarilychanged and accordingly it may be moved from near the tips of the toesto nearer the instep or vice versa according to the precedingpositioning. The shifting may be accomplished by thrusting the toesfarther into, or thru, the boot 3 or by partially withdrawing them, andcorrespondingly adjusting the strap 4 to effect a snug fitting of theboot on the fore portion of the foot and the strap around and slightlyabove the heel. The combination member I may then be moved forward orbackward, longitudinally the foot, by sliding in the supporting loops l6and IE, or it may be swung from side to side with or without sliding, soas to place the resilient member 2 upon the exact location on the soleof the foot where the treatment of the arch or other affected part is tobe directed. The manipulations of the foot maybe then effected byapplying and relieving pressure alternately upon the handle 6 by hand,either in a direct line or by a rolling or a lateral movement,'the loops1 6 and I6 acting as a fulcrum for the lever I which exerts pressureupon the sole of the foot thru the presser member 2. Pressure upon thehandle 6,

to effect the manipulations is properly applied by pressing or springingdown firmly and gently on the handle, the projecting lever portionsbeing appropriately resilient, and alternately relieving, or rolling andthen relieving, whichever is desired. The lateral or rolling movementsproduce a kneading effect upon the underside of the arch or otherportion of the foot undergoing treatment, while the pressure as taken ina direct line serves to exaggerate the normal arch.

In the application of the manipulation to a foot the strap 4, securedaround the heel, serves as an anchorage to prevent the snugly fittingboot 3 from slipping toward the outer ends of the toes. Whenperpendicular or lateral or angular pressure is applied to the handleportion 6 a corresponding pressure is brought on the top or side or sideand top, respectively, of the anterior portion of the foot. A resultantpressure in the opposite direction is also brought on the under side orside of the foot, as the case may be, bythe presser. member 2 secured tothe end of the lever I, opposite the handle end, which is fulcrumed inthe loops [6 and IS. The opposing pressures thus effected on the top ofthe anterior portion and the underside of the arch portion of the footserve to depress the anterior portion and spring the arch into an archedposition which is exaggerated from the normal. As the anterior portionof the foot is depressed the normally snug fittingstrap l is drawntighter around the heel and a corresponding pressure or 'pull is exertedupon the heel which has a tendency to draw it forward and slightlydownward thus aiding in manipulating the arch into the exaggeratedposition;

The pressure upon the'top of the anterior portion of the foot ispreferably distributed by the boot 3 over the area it covers while incontrast the pressure upon the under side of the foot is fairlyconcentrated by the presser member 2 at the exact point desirable. Byrepeatedly applying and relieving the pressure upon the handle 6,alternating with a rolling movement to effect a kneading of the partswhile continuingto apply desirable pressure, and shifting the locationof the presser from time to time, a healthful stimulation of the normalcirculation and draining of the articular surfaces may be realized.

Following the general mode described above, the method of applying themanipulative adjustments may be directed 'to all portions of. theunderside and/or the inside of the foot thus effectively relieving thestrained distorted condition. .As an individual becomes adept in the useof the apparatus-the various benefits to be derived from its use will bemore fully realized. 'A novice, however, may employ the device,following the method herein-set-forth, and from the beginningaffordhimself a profitable degreeof relief and begin the ligamentstrengthening and correcting process. 'A study of ones-particular 'pedaltroubles and increasing skill in the use of the device will enableone tofollow well organized systems for the proper local treatment of anailing part as contrasted with a general treatment of the entire foot.

It is pointed out that the diameter or size of the contact surface ofthe presser member 2 and its degree of resiliency is preferably adaptedfor the different systems of manipulative adjustments For example afairly large knob-like, or laterally disposed bar-like, soft pressermember may be employed for a general kneading of the entire underportion of thefoot .toobtain relief from an exceedinglytired or crampedcondition. While a fairly small and harder presser member maybe employedfor concentrating the pressure applied to a confined area, as whenmanipulatively adjusting and strengthening a toe'joint which mighthavebeen misplaced at some remotely or more nearly previous time.Varying graduations of shapes, .sizesand degrees of resiliency of thepresser members may be employed for'the treatment of disordered tarsal,metatarsal phalanges and so on.

It may be obvious that a number of modifications of the invention, withparticular reference to the apparatus may be effected without departingfrom the spirit and the scope of the invention which depends entirelyupon the definitions contained in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. An apparatus for manipulatively adjusting the feet from beneathcomprising a soleless partial cover arrangement for a foot covering theupper portion of the toes and securing around and slightly above theheel and a combined movable lever and knob-like presser member disposedbeneath the foot fulcrumed by an attachment to the toe covering portionand adapted for applying local pressure to the sole of a foot.

2. An apparatus for manipulatively adjusting the feet from beneathcomprising a soleless partial cover arrangement for a foot covering theupper portion of the toes and securing around and slightly above theheel, an elastic web member for drawing the edges of the toe coveringmember snugly together around the toes and a combined movable lever andknob-like presser member disposed beneath the foot fulcrumed by anattachment to the toe covering portion and adapted for applying localpressure to the sole of a foot. v

3. An apparatus for manipulatively adjusting the feet from beneath whilerestricting expansible movement of the anterior portion of the footcomprising a boot-like member covering the toes, a strap passing aroundand slightly above the heel adapted to secure the boot-like member onthe toes and-a combination movable lever, handle and knob-like pressermember depending from and fulcrumed by the boot-like member andextending longitudinally beneath the foot and adapted to apply localpressure to the sole of the foot.

4. An apparatus for manipulatively adjusting the feet from beneathcomprising a boot-like member for covering the anterior portion of thefoot and restricting laterally expansible movement of the toes and upperjoints thereof, a

longitudinally adjustable strap for passing around and slightly abovethe heel of a foot, a combined movable handle and lever member slidablysecured to the boot-like member and adapted to extend longitudinallybeneath the foot, loop-like members for securing the lever member to theboot-like member which alsoserve as a fulcrum for the lever member, anda knoblike presser member resilient with relation to its end surfacewhich is rigidly secured to the end of the lever member opposite thehandle portion and adapted to apply pressure locally to the sole offeet.

DANIEL W. DAVIS.

